It's a great museum for parents to take their kids... A great aquarium! Parking is good on street.

Recently reopened after an extensive renovation with an aquarium being a central feature. The hall of curiosities is very interesting, their art collection is extensive, and natural science displays make this a very well rounded museum. They could use more educational explanations of the displays or offer explainers in the halls. Congratulations to them on a good renovation. read more

Berkshire Museum - In the hall of Berkshire history. - Cinema Near Me - Pittsfield, Massachusetts

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Before my grandma sold her house in the Berkshires my family and I would visit here every year. I had been coming to visit since I was around five or six. I loved visiting the fish down in the aquarium and I remember when they had a touch tank before the pandemic hit. The snakes were also really cute too which might be an unpopular opinion. I also loved seeing the Christmas trees in the winter, there is a science center for kids and there are some beautiful paintings on display as well. I have always had the best memories here and before my grandpa passed away he would always love taking me here with my parents and my sister. My family members weren't huge fans of the aquarium like I was but I dragged them down there. I have so much to thank this museum for including, how much I learned, the memories I made, and how it was something fun that my grandpa and I could do together. read more

I haven't been to the museum in years, but I did remember checking it out one day. The exhibits were amazing! The many artifacts were priceless! read more

Excellent little museum. Very family friendly. This visit was to see the holiday tree celebration, and we also got to view the homage to glaciers and the Call of the Sea exhibit on maritime art. Super cool. I like that the museum is small enough to see things without getting exhausted, the staff is really friendly, and price is not too steep. Worth the visit, read more

Berkshire Museum - Holiday trees - Cinema Near Me - Pittsfield, Massachusetts

A charming and eclectic museum in the heart of Pittsfield, it's got a little bit of everything - natural history, anthropology and ancient cultures, arts and crafts, and historical innovation (focusing on local area innovators). While you would think this would be a shallow overview of these areas, it's actually well-curated and informative for what they focus on and display. There's a live aquarium and reptile terrariums in the basement floor (and a neat little coral nursery); local fauna displays and dioramas of other habitats as well as minerals on the first floor, along with the innovation hall; and artworks, sculptures, and ancient cultures on the top floor. Quite a pleasant way to spend a couple of hours, especially on a rainy day. read more

Berkshire Museum - Giovanni Benzoni's Veiled Rebecca - Cinema Near Me - Pittsfield, Massachusetts

We intentionally came to the Berkshires to relax, be with Nature and avoid people. But we ventured out a bit and see what Pittsfield was like. Let's just say it wasn't for me. But from where we were at in Lee, coming to Berkshire Museum was only 20 minutes to enjoy this small treasure. Think of Berkshire Museum as a condensed (extremely condensed) version of NYC's Museum of Natural History+The Met put together. Masks, Vax proof and IDs are required. You can access 1st, 2nd floors and the Aquarium all for $15 each adult (3rd fl. was closed on a Sunday we visited). For its size, Berkshire Museum has items on display, from the stone sculptures, gemstones, a nice collection of Egyptian art, Music instruments and other exhibits. Berkshire Museum's underwater world houses a few tanks with coral reefs, sea horses, crabs, snakes, turtles and colorful fish in the Aquarium located on the ground floor. For what it's worth, it's a nice family-friendly visit. Don't completely overlook this small museum. read more

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During our trip to the Berkshires, we were looking for places to visit and it was a close call between going to the Norman Rockwell museum or the Berkshire Museum. Given that we had a toddler with us, we decided that the Berkshire Museum would be a better bet and I am very glad we chose it. We visited the place on a Thursday afternoon (Oct. 2021) and the place was very empty, so much so that I joked with my wife that we had the whole museum reserved to ourselves. :) The place has a little bit of everything. The very first room that we passed through - the science room (I believe) - was out of commission but from the second room onwards, everything seemed open for viewing by visitors. That second room had a very impressive collection of stuffed birds - larger than any either my wife or I could recall having seen, at least in recent times. Additionally, that second room also included displays of some mammals like cougars, insects (or bugs as my daughter calls them), and fish. The next room included displays of a variety of rocks including the three major types - igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic - along with some rocks that are considered precious such as lapis lazuli. The third room on that entry level included fourteen miniature scenes depicting animals and plants in their native habitats such as bisons inhabiting the Great Plains of the U.S. The fourth and final room on this level was the newly opened Feigenbaum Hall of Innovation. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that the term Total Quality Management (TQM) owed its origins to inventors with connections to the Berkshire region - Armand Feigenbaum who wrote a multi-edition book titled "Total Quality Control". I was also pleasantly surprised to learn that a company based in Dalton, a small town in the Berkshires, has been the sole manufacturer of all paper used for U.S. currency since 1879. (https://www.uscurrency.gov/about-us/currency-facts) It was interesting to hear about the origins of the company and how it has gone about doing its business from the perspective of the current owners of the company which is now in the hands of the 6th and 7th generations of the founding family. The second floor was arguably a bit more high-brow and had art of various kinds. We did not have as much time to look at the exhibits in this floor as we had in the floor downstairs. Nonetheless, we enjoyed looking at various exhibits such as a mummy (or was it two?), footwear of various sorts, as well as pictures from Bhutan - a country close to my own country of India. The pictures of Bhutan displayed here at the museum were taken by a photographer couple and can be viewed at: https://meadeaglephotos.com/bhutan. Lastly, the basement had a small reptile section and an aquarium. Having recently traveled to the world-famous National Aquarium in Baltimore, we were not looking to be very impressed by this aquarium. Nonetheless, the collection of fish and reptiles wasn't too shabby and it provided considerable joy to our 2-year old toddler. Yes, there were pythons (2 I recall), frogs of various kinds, a scorpion, a tarantula, and other creatures creepy enough to give one the shivers. All in all, we enjoyed the museum considerably. While I do think that there is little rhyme or reason in what's included in the museum and what's not - there's a little bit of everything - that should not distract from my positive review of the museum. In as much as the goal of a museum is to expand one's horizons, while also providing some entertainment/ joy to little ones if any, this museum more than met its expectations for our family. All in all, a half-day well-spent. read more

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Nice museum located in the heart of Pottsfield, Massachusetts. The place includes a bit of everything from paintings, photography, Egyptian mummies, aquariums, a wall of minerals, and an innovation area. read more

We had such a great time at the Berkshire Museum! It was nice to walk around and learn some new things while avoiding the rain. I appreciate their transparency with their efforts to appropriately display certain items tied to roots not of the United States. We loved it here! Would definitely recommend! read more

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Grew up going here and still love visiting whenever I am in town. It's a great venue to spend some quality time with a range of beautiful paintings and sculptures, without that big-museum sense of being rushed. read more

I am torn in my opinion of this museum. The exhibits that are present are interesting, but there is not a lot to be seen here. So, as a small local museum it is nice. But, it is not the type of museum I would travel to far to visit. The taxidermy exhibit is extensive. I have never seen a lot of the animals that are displayed here. It was fun to get a glimpse of these creatures and my kids found all of the animals fascinating. Right next to this is a gem/rock exhibit. My kids liked looking at these and picking out their favorites. The "Innovation" exhibit was large but not engaging. I don't know why it was so big. We blasted through here. It was mostly signs about various innovators and things they created. The are two highlights in here. One was a video on a local company that makes the paper for US dollars. The other was an art area for the kids to sit and draw items from a display. I had high hopes for the basement aquarium, but please note that it is small. There are the typical tanks with fish, turtles, snakes, etc. I thought it was going to be larger. The staff member in the aquarium was very friendly and talked to my kids about various animals. See, this is why I am torn. I feel positive about a few of the exhibits but I really thought there would be more of interest here. We were in and out in under 2 hours. To be fair, there was a large section upstairs that was closed off while they set up for a new exhibit. That did limit what we were able to view and maybe that would have made a big difference. If you live nearby this could be a nice place to pop in and check out the new exhibits. Do set your expectations accordingly though. read more

Though small in size, this museum had a lot to offer for little ones. My boys, 7 and 3, enjoyed the many exhibits. My older one gravitated towards the Dinosaur Room as he is obsessed with dinosaurs. We also spent a lot of time in the small aquarium. My younger one even dragged the stool to explore each of the display windows in the Worlds in Miniature.* The descriptions are short and clear and many areas are tailored to a child's eye level which is key [though not quite my little 3 year old's eye level]. The Hall of Innovation* was my favorite, there were interesting topics that held my attention and the exhibit was aesthetically pleasing while being well organized. I found the sculptures in the Fine Arts section a bit confusing and out of place and the room with what I think was a giant display of wings was beautiful but felt bare and could have been a better utilized space. The gift shop was also pretty sparse, they didn't even have magnets; however, their limited selection can be a good thing as it cuts down on the "can-we-buy-this-please?" requests from your young'uns. Overall, this is a great introduction to young children; great exposure without being too overwhelming. photo* read more

Berkshire Museum - worlds in miniature [Berkshire Museum] - Cinema Near Me - Pittsfield, Massachusetts

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A little museum nestled into downtown Pittsfield, the Bershire Museum is a decent local museum but lacking in depth. The place is divided into a number of small exhibits - paleontology, local wildlife, geology, a small aquarium, and then a moderately sized archeology/anthropology area upstairs with a smattering of local history and modern art. The whole thing can be seen in a hour's time without rushing. The best parts were the local wildlife section - including a functional honeycomb with bees, and the aquarium which had a nice selection of exotic fish and reptiles. The downside is the size. The website makes it look larger than it is, and the dinosaur section - a big draw for me - was about the size of a large living room with only 3 actual bones and no complete skeletons. Although, there is a "sandbox" section where kids can dig for bones, which would have been the highlight of my year when I was 10. Overall, worth a visit, but set your expectations accordingly. -- Added: Parking is an issue at the museum. The website recommends using a parking lot on South Street down by the Colonial Theater. Unfortunately, it is (1) impossible to take a left into that lot so U-turns are needed, and (2) the lot only allows 30 minutes of parking Monday thru Friday. So, be sure to plan an alternate parking spot unless you're visiting over the weekend. read more

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What a great little museum. We enjoyed the special exhibit of National Geographic photos, interesting glass work, the animal models, and aquarium. My favorite room was a large space on the second floor that contained a mix of things including a penny farthing bicycle, taxidermied animals, and other artifacts. My only disappointment was that there is a mix of space for children and spaces that are not great for children, so there were toddlers running free and touching exhibits with a less than desirable amount of attention. I realize this is not the museum's fault, however, there was no one there to monitor the displays. I watched a child climb up and touch an animal next to a sign that it may contain arsenic. There is also a great gift shop and staff are very helpful. Takes about 90 minutes to see the entire museum. read more

The Berkshire Museum has been a staple for my family on our trips to the Berkshires. The museum features a few classic exhibits, like the dinosaur room and mini-aquarium, then hosts a rotating special exhibit. When I visited February 2012, the featured exhibit was Audubon birds: stuffed owls, ducks, hawks, falcons, and the like. The kicker was a tall stuffed ostrich that looked real enough to tackle me and poke my eye balls out. Stuffed animals give me the creeps, but there was definitely a lot to learn. The coolest dinosaur, the Stegosaurus, the museum staple, stands tall in the front of the museum. The dinosaur and prehistoric age exhibit were lacking - time to upgrade. I was disappointed to see that some of the tanks in the aquarium were empty. Beautiful sculptures and an authentic old Egyptian mummy on the top floor, but not enough information provided about the pieces. I really enjoyed the exhibits that were exclusive to the Berkshires, like the Innovation room. The museum showcased the history behind the area, famous people who lived there, and great inventions that spawned from the Berkshires. Overall, this is a great museum to check out for a couple hours if you're in the area. Entertainment for the whole family. read more

Berkshire Museum - Exhibit at the museum - Cinema Near Me - Pittsfield, Massachusetts

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My family and I literally stumbled on the museum and were torn about going in or not. Some reviews referred to it as small and limited. I feel those people did not go to many of the displays. There was so much to see. My kids favorite was the galactic room with glass renderings from local artist Josh William's. My kids loves all the hands on stuff like the virtual reality space walk. My husband is a Civil War/ American history fan and there was plenty for him to see as well. Loved how interactive it all was. So happy we came and will definitely return! read more

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We usually come to Berkshire few times a year. This time we come back and it was snowing we had the kids with us. few of the locals recommend to go to the Berkshire Museum. I actually loved the museum and one of the favorite part was the fact there was an aquarium downstairs in the basement. I think that's where we spend most of the time. Also I like how they had a little area for the kids to sit down and draw and feel like and Artist. Also we liked all the Christmas tree displays apparently they have a competition with all the local business in the neighborhood who would have the best Christmas tree read more

We were staying at Berkshire Mountain lodge and have a couple of days left before we leave so we decided to visit Berkshire Museum. $13 dollars is their museum fee. We were really surprise on how many interesting things we saw. From different Greek statutes, paintings, and historical artifacts and oil paintings of founders, Kings, nobleman, there was a lot to see. There was Pharaoh Phahat and an interactive screen about him and Egyptian burial ceremonies. William Pitts, where Pittfields is named after. Ancient coins, butter churning, civil war weapons. There was an area on what animals, insects, mammals roam in the area and lots of stuffed, mounted animals. Different beautiful dioramas of places like the Serengeti, Rainforest, etc. A small aquarium with different snakes, lizards, fishes like clown fishes in anemone what attracts kid calling them "there's Nemo"! It was fun to see kids getting excited. Overall, we stayed there almost two hours! read more

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I had a free afternoon in Pittsfield so I thought I would walk around the Berkshire Museum. I $13 a person it's not exactly a bargain considering there's not a lot to look at inside the museum- there was a few pieces of art mostly a lot of stuff to taxidermy animals Dusty and in need of repair. Small aquarium with some fish and a few snakes and some turtles. There was some minerals and rocks and some insects. A theater that nothing was playing at. Within 30 minutes I was finished seeing everything. It might be nice for very small children but that would be it. Of course I'm from New York City and we have Metropolitan and The New York Museum of Natural History. Let's just say that this whole museum can fit in one room of the Museum of Natural History. They did have an original Keith Herring there- other than that bring your children they will love the snakes read more

Pretty nice museum-- it was a little small and I think some exhibits were under construction. But, if you use your Hancock Shaker Village sticker you're save $3 and get in for only $10, so it's worth the price! read more

This was a great find! My fiancée and I stopped in here while in Pittsfield and I was intrigued by the fact that the Berkshire Museum is part Natural History Museum, part Art Museum, and part Aquarium. All three parts were very fun! The natural history section had a nice geology section and a nice collection of preserved animals. The aquarium was great and had a lot of turtles (my favorite) and the art section had a nice mix of American Indian and classical art (including a mummy!). It was really nice for a very small museum and easily worth the admission price. read more

The DaVinci exhibit was nice though it leaves in September. It had many interactive components. The Museum itself is small, as such each exhibit is small including the limited engagement exhibits. Half of the permanent exhibits are old. The others are newer, and just ok. You can complete the entire Museum in two hours or less. I had a child with me and high hopes for Lab 102. It had some large blocks, and magnet Tegu blocks. Disappointing. An ok place to visit if the weather prevents you from going outside. read more

We visited the museum yesterday afternoon and enjoyed ourselves. The American paintings and Egyptian relics were amazing. The aquarium had some of the most active snakes and turtles I've seen. We were impressed at how the Innovation exhibit meshed history, biography, and commerce with concepts of creativity, struggle, and perseverence to teach lessons for living. I would have liked to have seen more 19th and early 20th century local history, culture and fauna, but I learned to appreciate the benefactor's objectives as I toured the building and learned of far off places through the items he acquired. read more

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I really like this museum. My toddler had a blast. It is a fun way to spend a couple hours. The Dino dig is perfect for toddlers & the Christmas tree displays were really festive and pretty. Parking on the weekend is not monitored. Staff said police don't ticket on the weekends, but use your discretion. Some great displays. & animals. A fun place to go! Oh, bathrooms are big & easy to get to. read more

Great fun, and yes, somewhat geared toward kids, but don't we all need to feel like one occasionally? I only knocked off one star, because it definitely would be tough for the disabled. However, we had such a good time that we went back again to see the rest! To those who say it's disorganized and random, try to find the large signs as you enter the rooms. They explain the groupings. read more

It was a nice museum. It was a bit small; but perfect if you have small children. There are enough exciting things to keep them engaged, excited and to tire them out! read more

As many of the places I like, this is another gem in the Berkshires, and it still astounds me when I ask friends or locals, if they have been here and they say no. Really? Not just a museum, they have all sorts of programs and events. If you have not gone, or it's been a few years, go take another look. read more

I love taking my children to the Berkshire Museum. My children love that they have a great animal track exhibit and they teach the children how to track animals in the forest. They love the big Dinosaurs. read more

A fun interactive museum! The kids 11 & 9, had a great time. The paper art exhibit was fun and between that and the innovation exhibit art area they left with a load of self made art projects. If your kids like hunting and searching stop in at the gift shop first. They handed the kids three sheets of questions to fill out and claim a prize back at the shop. It encouraged them to explore and hunt through sections they might have otherwise just breezed by. They loved the aquarium - hey Axolotl! I was a little underwhelmed with the dinosaur exhibit. Maybe it is a work in progress. There was definitely construction being done in the room. The whole building was interesting and small touches of quirky humor can be found throughout. read more

Great MC Escher exhibit! Friendly staff and lots of extra's for children.

My son like it ，they Always have promotion We Benn there for free twice with bank of America card

Good variety, loved the Hudson River School works! Could have done without the "Innovation" exhibit.

Fun museum for kids and adults. Parking is a bit tricky, but the two times I've been here I've parked in the 90 minute zone around the corner and got back just in time. They have a bit of everything- fish, snakes, art, a mummy, crystals, an interactive area for children, etc. Check the websites for the movie times before you come. They have a pretty nice looking movie theater but they play actual movies so it only runs a certain times. read more

Interesting exhibits, seems more oriented to children than adults. My wife is disabled and the numerous door and the lack of automated door openers made it very wheelchair hostile. Surprisingly I did see automated door openers in the office and class area so they appear to be catering to the needs of their staff, but not to the general public. read more